Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-19
BASE HALL.
About Jim O'Rourke-He Says There
 Was No Trouble-The New HaveI


 About Jim O'Rourke-He Says liner.
 Team-Other Notes.
 Murphy, Troy, Burns, Crowley and Zeihel of the New Haven team reported for duty yesterday. Farrell notified Manager DonnellJ that he could not be here for two or three days yet, being i'll.
 The sudden change in the state of the weather yesterday may be the means of dis polling all hopes of the game to morrow, il it does not clear off to-day. It will be se rious loss to the local club if brighter turr in the weather is not made in time for tho game against the New York league club. Il is not expected by anybody that the New Haven team will play winning game then. Il would be impossible. The players are al unused to one another, and, although eact has been practising hard of late, yet the team which success cannot be had, will be lack ing The New Works in themselves are a great drawing card. and with the accession of O'Rourke will call out an immense crowd if the weather will be favorable.
 Work on the grounds has received set back by the snow. The fence has been re- paired to such an extent that the small boy cannot crawl under and will have hard time of it in climbing over. There are to be inside the grounds to capture those who may wish to get in without paying by jumping oyer the fence.
 The New Haven team disbanded Saturday and all the members have gone back to theil farms.-Hartford Telegram.
 The Telegram meant the foregoing as joke, we know, and that is the reason we will snicker with the base ball editor. Yet how trueis it's statementI It is extremely lucky as the Telegram itself graciously admits that all the members of the New Haven club have farm to go to. When the Hartfords strike the New Ravens the latter, like the farmer scattering his seed, will likely scatter ward, and they unlike the farmers good and true of the New Haven team, will go with the winds, which have no objective point.
 Dan Phalon, of Waterbury, has signed as first baseman for Springfeld's team. Man ager Shaw has now 8 men signed, or that at least is what the Springfield Republican says If so, nearly half of them will be released before the season has fairly begun. Spring field cannot hold so many men.
 In the ranks of the Buffalos, who are to play here soon, are Grant, the finest colored second baseman in the country, with few equals among his white brethren, and Jack Remsen, the veteran center fielder.
 ABOUT NEW RAVENS FAvoRTTE.
 At the conclusion of Mondays game or the Polo grounds Sporting Times reporter met President Day and remarked that Jim O'Rourke (Yale Law schooD was evidently ir good condition. "Oh, yes," was the reply ''Jim is all right. By the way, I had an in terestlng chat with him when he called or me to sign his contract for the year. I was sitting in my office and did net expect him He walked in and said good morning in { pleasant way and I congratulated him on hi: good appearance. I said, Jim, do you wan to sign now? and he replied that he did Then asked him if he had considered the salary question and he said he had though very little about it. He said, however, tha he was satisfied with last years pay.
 "'Ohl' I said, T did not know but that yol would stand 8 decrease.' He laughed and saic no, but that an increase would not be taker amiss. We joked about the matter for minute, then he asked to see the contract had filled out. He scanned it, and then ir the most good-humored style asked for pen An instant later the bold and dourishinl signature of James H. ORourke was on tn, document. Then we talked about the tean and I asked him if he was prepared to g behind the bat when asked to do so. |" I will play any position l am assigned to- said be- I have heard that I refused t. catch, but never said so to any newspape
  fact is that if you have confidence in m ability to play behind the bat and put m there 1 will use every endea7or to satisfy yol and your patrons.
 .'I told him that had every confidence il him and felt perfectly safe when he was be hind the bat. That being the case, MT. Day I will catch when you want me to, and if yo want me to play any other position I will. want you to understand, sir, that I am nc welded to one position, but am willing t. work in any field or on base if by so doin I can assist in gaining victory for the Ne' York club and cause it's advancement in tn pennant race.' ''The remarks, of O'Rourke's, 'continuedM1 Day, 'tare examples of the expressions of al the others. Ewing, Ward, Connor, Welch Gore, Keefe and all of the boys, in fact assured me that they were willing or eve anxious to do anything to win games. More over, they all express the belief that tn New York team is stronger than ever before and that they stand excellent chances of win ming the pennant."
 Shannon, manager and second baseman o the Bridgeport team, has played in seve games this season without an error, although he has accepted nearly fifty chances. Munyan of the Bridgeports is a great fa vorite in that city. He is compelled to dof his cap each time he steps up to the plate t bat.
 The following is the relative battin strength of the several National league ant American associations: Boston and Detroi Pittsburg PAS, Philadelphia .234, Washing ton .231, Indianapolis .225.
 THE RHETORICAL SOCIETY,